The Hardriders Time Trial is an annual season opener for the TT season for Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club and returned to its traditional place in the calendar in March on Sunday 13th after being moved to June last year due to Covid restrictions.
The event attracts competition from quite a few cycling clubs around the region as well as the club’s own TT riders. All taking on the challenge of a 23 mile time trial,starting in Wroxton and heading north westerly toward Stratford-upon-Avon, turning round at Ettington.
March can throw up a mixed bag of weather, including snow in the past, the descent and ascent of Sunrising Hill, which at its steepest goes to 16% and has a tight left hand bend on the descent.
This morning dawned with a blustery southerly wind and rain. The wind gusting from around 14mph to 26, a little tail wind helping the riders on the out leg and becoming a headwind on the return. The rain had stopped by 8:00 when the first riders started, but leaving a lot of standing water on the sides of the road and creating a treacherous slippery descent of Sunrising.
There were no course records set in the tricky conditions, but there were some very commendable times. David Fellows from Solihull CC , made it a hat trick of wins in the event with a time of 51.32 with an average speed of nearly 27mph and taking home the Broughton Cup. Banbury Star rider Josh Newbould came in second with a time of 52.09 and Gerard Henry of the University of Warwick was third, Gerard who had won Banbury Star annual road race a few years previously was 3rd in a time of 54.25 who rode on a road bike. Fastest of the ladies who took on this notorious event, battling the elements and time was Naomi de Pennington of Banbury Star finishing in a time of 60.47 and an average speed of 23mph, second for the ladies was Lydia Watts – Espoir, AWOL O’Shea Worx with a time of 62.47, followed by Ceilia Brown of Beacon Roads CC with a time of 63.20. Banbury Star’s Poppy Kisley representing the juniors deserves special mention, performing very admirably in a time of 76.12, planning on competing at a junior road race later in the day.
Well done to all the competitors for taking on this very tough event and congratulations to David Fellows for completing a hat trick of wins and Naomi for being the fastest lady. Thanks to the organising team , timekeepers and marshals who supported the event.
An album of photos is here
The full results are here
David Fellows
Naomi De Pennington